What is Collagen? And how does Collagen help to boost up Your Health?

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in our bodies like muscles, bones, skin, digestive system, blood vessels, skin, tendon etc. It’s what that gives our skin strength and elasticity, along with replacing dead skin cells. It even acts as a glue when it comes to our joints and tendons that hold the body together. Therefore, collagen is increasingly used for medical and cosmetic purposes, even for healing and repairing of the body’s tissue nowadays. So regular consumption of collagen-rich foods like Fish, Red Vegetables, Dark Green Vegetables, Orange Vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes etc, Berries, Soy, white tea, citrus fruits, Protein, Garlic etc are very essential to boost up your sound health.

It is assumed that there are at least 16 different types of collagen within the human body. These include collagen types 1,2,3,5 and 10. Here Type 1 accounts for almost 90% of the body’s supply while other accounts from 80% to 90%. Now let’s discuss on some of the types of Collagen before explaining the importance of collagen to boost up your health:

Overview of the different types of collagen along with their primary benefits:

Type 1:

Type 1 is by far the most abundant type of collagen found within the human body. It is also considered as the strongest collagen since TYPE 1 collagen Fibrils are stronger than steel (gram for gram). Similarly, the fibers called eosinophilic fibers help to form several parts of the body like tendons, ligaments, organ, and skin (dermis), and even found in the GI tract. Therefore it’s very important and essential for wound healing, giving skin its stretchy and elastic quality and holding together tissue so it doesn’t tear.

Type 2:

Type 2 is found in connective tissues and helps for building cartilage primarily. It’s even beneficial for preventing age-associated joint pain or various arthritis symptoms.

Type 3:

Type 3 is made up of reticular fibers and a major component of the extracellular matrix that makes up our skin and organs. It’s usually found with type 1 and gives skin its elasticity and firmness.

Note: Deficiency in type 3 collagen creates the higher risk for ruptured blood vessels and even early death since it forms blood vessels and tissue within the heart.

Type 4:

Type 4 plays a significant role in forming basal lamina, which is found in endothelial cells and form tissue that surrounds organs, muscles and fat. Similarly, basal laminas are found in the spaces between the top layer of the skin/tissue and the deepest layer. Furthermore, they even line the majority of our digestive organs and respiratory surfaces.

Type 5:

Type 5 collagen is essential to make the surface of cells, as well as hair strands and tissue found in women’s placentas.

Type 10:

Type 10 is more useful for the new bone formation and forming articular cartilage. During new bone formation in Mammals, it goes in the process of endochondral ossification. Similarly, it is also found to be beneficial for bone fracture healing and repairing of synovial joints.

Note: Bovine collagen is a naturally occurring protein found in the bones, cartilage, and hides of cows. It provides a healthy dose of types I and III collagen for skin, tendons, bones, gums, teeth, eyes, muscles and blood vessels.

Now let’s discuss on health benefits of Collagen:

Improves Health of Hair and Skin:

As we grow older, production of collagen declines so that looser skin, more wrinkles, and less elasticity appears on our face. But if we increase the level of collagen, skin looks firmer, increase smoothness, and help your skin cells keep renewing and repairing normally. Similarly one of the research found that 2.5-5 grams of collagen hydrolysate used among women aged 35-55 once daily for eight weeks magnificently improved skin elasticity, transepidermal water loss (Dryness), skin roughness, skin moisture with no side effects. For this reason, it has become now as one of the best natural skin care ingredients available. Furthermore, it also reduces cellulite and stretch marks.

Helps to heal Leaky Gut:

Collagen is very helpful for you if you are suffered from Leaky Gut Syndrome. It helps to break down proteins and soothes your gut’s lining, healing damaged cell walls and infusing it with healing amino acids. Furthermore, regular consumption of collagen-rich food helps to form connective tissue “seals and heals” for the protective lining of the gastrointestinal tract.Similarly, it also helps to treat gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders like leaky gut syndrome, IBS, acid reflux, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative colitis.

Reduces Joint Pains and Degeneration:

Perhaps many of us felt pain in skeleton; it is due to lack of collagen that makes our tendons and ligaments start moving with less ease, leading to stiffness, swollen joints and more. So regular consumption of collagen-rich foods like Fish, Red Vegetables, Dark Green Vegetables, Orange Vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes etc, Berries, Soy, white tea, citrus fruits, Protein, Garlic etc are very essential for joints move more easily, reduces pain with aging and even reduces the risk of joint deterioration. Even more, recent studies have shown that collagen is an effective treatment for treating osteoarthritis and other joint pain and disorders.

Strengthens Hair, Teeth, and Nails:

Collagen protein is the building block of your fingernails, hair, and teeth. Regular consumption of collagen-rich foods on your diet help to keep your nails strong and possibly reverse signs of hair loss as well.

A study published in the “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” found that there are an “essential relationships between extracellular Matrix (ECM) and hair follicle regeneration, suggesting that collagen could be a potential therapeutic target for hair loss and other skin-related diseases.

Boosts up Metabolism, Muscle Mass, and Energy Output:

Collagen helps to add lean muscle mass to your frame by increasing your metabolism rate. It may even help to support posture, bone health, and burns more calories than fat. Furthermore, it is found that arginine boosts the body’s ability to make protein from other amino acids, and play vital roles in maintaining a healthy, youthful body by repairing muscle tissue, healing wounds, boosting the metabolism etc. Similarly, Glutamine helps to maintain sufficient energy by facilitating the synthesizing of many chemicals. Furthermore, Glycine also helps to slow down the effects of aging by improving the body’s use of antioxidants and used in the process of constructing healthy cells from DNA and RNA. So It plays a vital role in both digestive and central nervous systems.

Hence, these are just a few of advantages of consuming collagen-rich foods but there are also even more like